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Sunday, November 22, 2009

Thankfully Reading Weekend and Stuff

I need some time to finish up some 2009 challenges and just learned of this upcoming fun event:

Looking for an informal, no pressure opportunity to devote to books and reading? Jenn from Jenn's Bookshelves gets full credit for coming up with the idea of Thankfully Reading Weekend. which will start on Friday, November 27 and end on Sunday, November 29.

There are no rules to the weekend and no prizes; the plan is to simply hoping to devote a good amount of time to reading, and perhaps meeting some reading challenges and goals for 2009. We thought it'd be fun if we cheered each other on a bit. If you think you can join in, grab the button (Didn't Jenn do a great job?) and sign on to Mr. Linky. If you don't have a blog, use the comments!

If you can't join this weekend, Bethany of Dreadlock Girl is hosting a Read-a-thon on December 5 and Michelle of GalleySmith is hosting "seriespalooza," an event for catching up on your series, later in December.

International readers: Just join in, no need to be celebrating the U.S. holiday. Remember that there are no rules. You can sign up HERE.

It's been a lousy (9) days around these parts since my brother's passing. The hub hub of activity: preparations for the wake, funeral, celebration of his life, and all the cards, flowers, food. Suddenly, all the activity stops and suddenly the realization sets in. My SIL and I have started our walking routine once again. Things feel very weird to me, without my brother next door. I have my husband, who has been my rock through lots of sleepless nights. I can only imagine how lonely the house must be for my SIL. Life, at least for now time passes slowly around these parts for all of us.

Thank you all for your warm, sincere expressions of sympathy; it meant so much to me.

THANKSGIVING - This did have a way of sneaking up on us. We'll be having (6) for dinner so I won't be stressing myself out too much. (What are your plans --those of you celebrating Thanksgiving on Thursday?)

I hope getting back to a normal routine helps, but I know how hard that can be. Thanksgiving is at our house this year, but with a relatively small crowd of 14. There's a big family party on Saturday with my aunt, cousins, etc...can't wait!

I am so sorry about your brother and yes, you are right, that it becomes even harder when all the activity dies done and you are just left with the reality. It is especially hard this time of year..you SIL is lucky to have you and your husband near. you are lucky to have each other...

I am thinking of you and your SIL....my heart feels so heavy with grief for you both and I look at my own brother differently now. We think that we're invincible and that we'll always be there for the other sibling. ((hugs))

** I may have to join in on the Reading Weekend because I certainly won't be out shopping with all of the crazy people!!!

I'm sorry that you are going through such a rough time right now. Losing a loved one is like losing a limb. You just have to learn how to function all over again, but you will...with time of course.

On a reading note, I am hoping to finish Her Fearful Symmetry tonight but with the kid interruptions today, it doesn't look like it will happen. However, Els' creeping around and hiding in TVs is totally weirding me out!

Since none of our kids and grands will be around, DH and I are going to help with the local Community Dinner on Thanksgiving. Strange not to have family here, but I am looking forward to a new experience.:)

I can imagine that things are hard for you right now and I am hoping that life will become more peaceful for you and your family soon. I am thinking about joining your reading weekend, but have to make sure I have the time before I commit to it. I think it would be really fun to read all weekend though! I am also interested in what you will think of Her Fearful Symmetry.

I do think that the business immediately after a loved one's passing keeps you so busy that you don't truly start to grieve and feel the loss until the business stops and you go back to "normal" but of course, nothing is normal anymore. I've been absent from blogging for the last few weeks because my mom is visiting. She lost my dad in August and her mom died earlier this month so she is trying to navigate her way though this and staying with us for awhile to get "out" of the house. It can also be so tough to go through this during holidays ... everyone seems to busy and happy and then there you are ... feeling sad and tired and depressed. Take heart .. you are not alone. Thinking of you!

Thanks for taking the time to visit and double thanks for any comments. If you ask a question in your comments, I will try to reply to it here, or by email if your settings allow me to do so. Thank again for visiting.